The University of Northern BC is launching a scholarship in honour of the late Matt Pearce.
Pearce was a Prince George native who played seven season in the CFL as a fullback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, winning a Grey Cup. After retiring from football he became a teacher and eventually served as President of the PG District Teachers Association. In addition to teaching, he coached several youth sports teams throughout the years.
He died suddenly in January at the age of 48.
UNBC Director of Athletics Loralyn Murdoch says they felt it was important to recognize Pearce’s legacy.
“We wanted memory to stay at the forefront of the things that happen in the future… That named scholarship, is always going to be there. It will always be in his memory and we can constantly tell people what it’s about and who he was.”
Murdoch says she and most of the UNBC Athletics Department knew Pearce well, noting that Pearce’s daughter Tenley attends UNBC “Their son also plays basketball and football; those kids have grown up in the community, we’ve all coached them at some time and I think it was something, in his passing, that we could do as an institution to honour him and his family.”
Starting next year, two $1,000 scholarships will be given out to student athletes to excel in their studies. Preference will go to varsity basketball players, with one award each going to a male and female player.
“And it’s going to be someone who is from the area, that was very important to the Pearce family; that we recognize kids that are from the north because that is where their kids grew up and that’s where Matt’s passions were.” Murdoch said
The scholarship still has to get UNBC Senate approval, which is likely a formality at this point.